Anthony Collins beefs up risk management

ANTHONY Collins Solicitors has strengthened its risk management provision with the appointment of John Turner as regulatory lead.
 
Turner joins from the Environment Agency where he worked for 12 years. He has previously held a number of senior positions in the private, public and charitable sectors including as a partner and head of regulatory law with Wragge & Co. In addition to his legal qualifications he is also a chartered environmentalist.
 
Turner will apply his expertise in the social housing, health and social care, education and charitable sectors. He will be the first point of contact for clients seeking advice on environmental, health and safety, safeguarding, crisis management and the development of good governance.
 
Helen Tucker, partner, said: “John has a strong reputation and an in-depth knowledge and experience of the areas of law that are of practical day to day importance to our clients. I am sure they will quickly turn to him as a friendly and trusted adviser.”
 

Record promotions by Irwin Mitchell

 
IRWIN Mitchell has announced a record number of partner promotions within the firm.

Nine solicitors and four non-lawyers have been promoted to partnership status, subject to SRA approval, with one solicitor also being promoted into the firm’s full equity membership,

John Pickering said he was delighted that the successful candidates came from right across the firm, reflecting the strength of its offering to clients.
 
Four of the newly-promoted solicitors are based in the firm’s rapidly-growing Business Legal Services division, with another five coming from Personal Legal Services.

Pickering said: “Our business is growing and in a strong position and this round of partnership promotions reflects the breadth of the high quality, innovative services we provide to our clients. One of Irwin Mitchell’s strengths is the diversity of its offering and yet again, this announcement reflects that, covering our work with business and private clients.”
 
Promotions from the firm’s PLS division include Birmingham-based Luke Daniels, who also works with victims of child abuse.
 
The appointments to BLS come off the back of a year which has seen 13 other partners join the rapidly-expanding division, culminating in the high profile hire of Chris Rawstron to head up the business team in Birmingham.
 

Alsters Kelley recruits former Blakemores solicitor

COVENTRY and Warwickshire law firm, Alsters Kelley has strengthened its Family Law team with the appointment of Assistant Solicitor, Lisa Blizzard, left.

She rejoins the firm having qualified as a legal executive and completed her training as a solicitor with the practice in 2004. She specialised in children’s and care proceeding work before moving to Blakemores in 2008.

She has gained extensive experience in this area and was appointed a member of The Law Society’s specialist Children’s Panel in 2011, which allows her to represent children in court.

Erica Kemp, Head of Family Law, said: “We continue to expand our care department with the appointment of Lisa, demonstrating our commitment to representing vulnerable children and adults within our local community at very difficult times in their lives.”

Ms Blizzard will be based, primarily at the Leamington office but will also see clients out of the Coventry and Nuneaton offices.